Bridge-approach.



r91 w, W!

J. W. FITZGERALD.

BRIDGE APPROACH.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 4. 1916.

EJIE Patented 0013. 17,1916.

"NT or on- BRIDGE APPROACH.

Application filed. April 4, 1916. Serial No. 88,926.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN W. FITZGERALD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Artesian, in the county of Sanborn and State of South Dakota, have invented a new and useful Bri dge-Approach, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to bridge approaches, and aims to provide novel and improved approaches or runways for the wheels of vehicles moving onto or off of a bridge, culvert or the like.

It is the object of the invention to provide a bridge approach or wheel runway composed of concrete blocks attached to gether and to the bridge or culvert in a novel manner, whereby to provide means whereby the wheels of vehicles can pass onto and off of the bridge or culvert without trouble, even though the dirt approaches are washed away due to a heavy rainfall, flood, or the like, since the present approaches or runways will remain in place even though the ground adjacent them is washed away to some extent. Ordinarily in case that the dirt approaches are washed away, worn down, or the like, depressions are provided, which render it diflicult for vehicles to pass onto and off of the bridge or culvert, and it is the object of the invention to provide permanent approaches or runways avoiding these and other objections incident to the washing or wearing away of ordinary dirt approaches.

It is also the object of the invention to provide a bridge approach or runway which can be readily assembled with various bridges, culverts, and the like, which is extremely simple and inexpensive in construction, and which will carry out the above functions in a thoroughly practical and efficient manner.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the inventionherein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a plan view showing the approaches or runways assembled with a Specification of Letters Patent. 1

Patented Oct. 1'7, 1916.

bridge. Fig. 2 is a view illustrating opposite approaches or runways applied to a small bridge or culvert, one approach be ing shown in elevation and the other being shown in longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is an end View of one approach. Fig. 4 is a cross section of one approach. Fig. 5 is a fragmental elevation illustrating a modification used on larger bridges or culverts. Fig. 6 is a fragmental elevation illustrating a modification used on cylindrical culverts or conduits.

Ordinarily, a pair of the approaches or runways is used at each side (or end) of the bridge or culvert, as seen in Fig. 1, the approaches or runways lying in the wheel paths, in order that the wheels of the Valli-r cles can pass onto and off of the bridge or culvert easily. Each approach or runway embodies a series of blocks 1 formed of concrete or other plastic material, and these blocks are sufiiciently wide to properly support the wheels of various vehicles. The blocks are also of proper thickness, to resist the strains to which the approach is subjected. The series of blocks 1 are arranged at right angles with the bridge or culvert 2, and that block 1 which is adjacent the bridge or culvert 2 has a slanting face resting against the respective side of the bridge or culvert, whereby the blocks can lie in a suitable inclined position, ac-

cording to the incline of the approach. The

block 1 is a wedge form, and the blocks are embedded in the ground. The blocks 1 are provided at their sides with outstanding portions 3 flush with the upper surfaces'of the blocks, and seating upon a pair of truss rods 4: extending longitudinally along the opposite sides of the blocks 1. As illustrated in Fig. 2, when the bridge or culvert is of small proportions, the rods 4 are extended through the opposite sides of the bridge or culvert and are used for the opposite approaches or runways, so as to extend to the remote ends of said approaches, the rods being bent properly, as seen in said figure. The bottoms of the blocks 1 have 'alining grooves 5 receiving a lower truss rod 6, which is coextensive with the rods 4:, and which assists in supporting the blocks of the two approaches.

In order to clamp the blocks in place, nuts 8 are threaded upon the remote ends of the rods 4. and 6, washer plates 7 being preferably disposed between the nuts 8 and the end blocks 1, and the rods 4 preferably extending through apertures in said plates. Tie wires 9 are preferably engaged under the ends of the rod 6 behind the respective nuts 8, and have their ends hooked or bent around the ends of the rods 4, whereby to hold the ends of the rods in place, to prevent their separation. When the nuts 8 are tightened, the blocks of the approaches are naturally clamped together and against the sides of the bridge or culvert 2, and said blocks are supported by the truss rods, assisted by the ground in which the blocks are embedded. The Wheels of vehicles can readily pass over the blocks when moving onto and off of the bridge or culvert, and even though the dirt is washed away, the concrete approaches will remain in place. Should certain of the blocks become broken or worn out, they can be removed and replaced by new ones, since the nuts 8 can be loosened to allow the blocks to be removed. The blocks are alike, with the exception of the blocks l and can be made by the same mold.

l/Vhen the approaches or runways are used upon larger bridges or culverts, the truss rods need notextend through the bridge or culvert. Thus, as illustrated in Fig. 5, the truss rods 4 and 6 extend through the side member 2 of a large bridge or culvert, and the nuts 8 rest against said member 2.

l/Vhen the approaches are used in connection with a cylindrical culvert or conduit 2", as seen in Fig. 6, arched plates 10 straddle the culvert 2, and the truss rods l and 6 have their adjacent ends engaged with the plates 10. The blocks 1 which are adjacent the culvert, are curved to fit the plate 10 or the culvert, whichever they rest against.

The present approaches can be readily installed, and will withstand the wear and tear to which approaches are subjected, the blocks of the approaches being readily renewed when broken or worn out. The other advantages of the present invention will be obvious from the foregoing, taken in connection with the drawing.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. An approach comprising a series of blocks, one end block being shaped to fit against the side of the bridge or culvert, and means extending along the blocks to support them and engageable with the bridge or culvert and with the other end block, for clamping the blocks together and against the bridge or culvert, said means when loosened permitting the blocks to be removed and replaced individually.

2. An approach comprising a series of blocks, truss rods for supporting them and engageable with a bridge or culvert, one end block being shaped to fit the bridge or culvert, and means upon said rods engageable with the other end block, for clamping the blocks together and against the bridge or culvert, the blocks being seated upon the rods and being individually removable when said means is loosened.

3. An approach comprising a pair of truss rods engageable with a bridge or culvert, a series of blocks between said rods, and having portions seating thereon, one end block being shaped to fit the bridge or culvert, and means upon the rods and engageable with the other end block for clamping the blocks together and against the bridge or culvert, the blocks being in dividually removable when said means is loosened.

4. An approach comprising a pair of side truss rods, a lower truss rod, sald truss rods being engageable with a bridge or culvert, a series of blocks between the first mentioned .rods and having portions seating thereon,

the blocks having lower alining grooves receiving the lower truss rods, one end block being shaped to fit the bridge or culvert, and means upon the ends of the truss rods and bearing against the other end block for clamping the blocks together and against the bridge or culvert.

5. An approach comprising a pair of side truss rods, a lower truss rod, said truss rods being engageable with a bridge or culvert, a series of blocks between the first mentioned rods and having portions seating thereon, the blocks having lower alining grooves receiving the lower truss rod, one end block being shaped to fit the bridge or culvert, means upon the ends of the truss rods and bearing against the other end block for clamping the blocks together and against the bridge or culvert, and means for tying the ends of the rods together to prevent the separation thereof.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN WILLIAM FITZGERALD.

Witnesses:

IVAN L. SMIT C. M. CLEVELAND.

Gupies or this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. 0. 

